Does God read my blogs?! :)

“I need to talk… and since I assume I’ll never see you again, you’re perfect.”

This was the beginning of a VERY interesting conversation with a VERY interesting man.

Running away from his divorce, rebellious children, job and basically his “reality” he travels around to places where he doesn't know anyone. Boca Chica was this month’s choice. 

I wasn't surprised to hear this. We have hundreds of men from all over the world that come to “escape.”

“But I have needs. I’m lonely. I’m frustrated. I just needed to get away. But now I fear she might be pregnant.”

He continued his in-depth description of his escapades with a young lady who was “most definitely not a street lady. She was sitting at a table outside of a restaurant waiting for a friend.”

It seemed to click when I asked if the friend ever showed up… there was no friend.

It saddened my heart to hear his struggle, anger, hurt and fear but as he spoke, the precious faces of the girls we meet each week ran through my mind. I just listened.

Until he asked, “What did you say you do again?”

:)      (I actually thought… Are you suuuuuuure you want to know! … Lol)

I smiled. “I pick up the broken pieces of the girls you leave behind.”

I began to explain that pregnancy was the least of his worries. Sexually transmitted diseases, emotional/physical/spiritual scarring, an eternity in hell to name a few.

God allowed me to share Christ with this hurting man… but I really struggled telling him that what he was doing was wrong.

SINNERS SIN! That’s what they do! They are professionals!!! Ethically, physically, mentally, LEGALLY his actions are WRONG! But spiritually… there is no repentance.

THANK GOD ALMIGHTY that the HOLY SPIRIT shut me up and CHRIST ALONE did the talking.

I don’t fully know why God sent me to run with that man. Perhaps to prick his conscience or make him stop and think. But I know that the Holy Spirit touched my heart.

Remember last week I shared about “stalking” others and hearing their stories. Well… I think God reads my blogs :) I believe God wanted me to hear a story, not from the hurting women or the trafficked teenagers, but from the depths of a broken, hurting and sinful soul.

So this week I am asking God to help me love the tough ones. People who don’t deserve to be loved.

SAUL that we yells at us on Thursday nights.

Boca Chica’s crazy woman who chases us from time to time.

The perverts that whistle.

The people who cut us off in traffic.

The police man who pulls us over for nothing.

The workmate that snaps at us.

The boss that chews us out

The child who has a temper tantrum.

Because… “GOD shows HIS love for us in that while we were STILL sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

HE loved me while I wasn't worth loving. LORD, help me to love them too.

Spotting Jesus in a tattered story.

Two ladies light a candle and place it by a tree. A small piece of wood protects the flames from the beach breeze. One of the woman leans her head on the tree and cries.

A few steps away a young boy sleeps on the sand. He uses his shoe-shining kit as a pillow and stays warm by pulling his arms inside the sleeves of his shirt.

Beach chairs are being slid in to place by the same faces that I see from day to day.

Two boys run along the beach in their tighty-whities with a home-made plastic kite. Their laughter can be heard over the baseball players training near-by.

I have always been a people watcher (which is like a nice stalker, I think!). I have absolutely no shame to run on the beach, sit at a café or go for a walk, all on my lonesome, just to watch others. I pass kids in school uniform, elderly people searching in the dumpsters, drunks, wealthy people, mothers, foreigners, locals. What fascinates me more than anything… is the story behind the face.

Robersy and I were reminded of this truth as we typed up some of the testimonies for his baseball boys. As Robersy read the incomprehensible scribble (do all boys write messy!?) he paused a couple times to say, “Wow! I didn’t know that!” Boys he works with every week!

The truth is… we all have a story.

Maybe it’s a thriller, suspense, comedy, horror or fairy-tale, but it has made us in to the person we are today.

One of the joys I have as a discipleship leader is listening to stories. Through tears, anger, laughter and heart-ache I hear story after story after story. Many times we can get lost in the story. “You did what? He said what? You went where?” But what I’ve attempted to do over the years is to spot Jesus.

When did HE shine amongst the ashes… When did HE lift you up… When did HE let you be… When did HE call you… When did HE watch you walk away...

He IS there. In every story.

The awesome thing about those testimonies from Robersy’s boys is that there was a point where each one of them surrendered their lives to the Author of their story. And on Easter Sunday it was an honor to see 7 of them follow through in believer’s baptism!

You see… their stories are not over yet. My story isn’t over yet. Your story isn’t over yet.

Can you spot Jesus in your story?

Once upon a time...

“So… how did you two meet?”

This is BY FAR the most popular question that people ask Robersy and I. 

Well, that and “Um… you look American but there is something different about you. Where are you from?” comes in a close second :) But since Robersy and I celebrated our 2^nd year anniversary on April 6^th I've decided to retell the story once again. And then when people ask, I’ll refer them to my blog! LOL.

My first answer to this recurring question is, “GOD!” Because really there is no other tangible explanation of how a shy boy from an area near Bani (Cruce de Ocoa) of the Dominican Republic would fall in love with a crazy girl from an island in the middle of the Atlantic ocean. HOWEVER, God had some creative ideas of how it ought to happen.

It all began when I began serving with Word of Life in Bermuda. I knew that God had called me to be a missionary, I just wasn't sure where. I began praying about Scotland (where my mom is from) and the Dominican since both had been on my heart. I was really torn. I looooove Scotland and there was an amazing opportunity to serve with my uncle’s church. I could live with or near my grandparents and have plenty of family around. Made sense to choose Scotland! But my heart was unsettled with that decision.

I had visited the Dominican once before and certainly didn't speak Spanish fluently… but as the opportunity to serve as a financial secretary opened up I decided to take the plunge.

Meanwhile in the Dominican Republic (before I arrived) a boy named Robersy had recently accepted Christ as his Savior. He decided to leave his life of baseball behind when he realized that he’d have to literally live a lie (he had changed his identity to continue pursuing his dreams as a professional baseball player… that’s a whole other story!) and began attending a church in Bani.

At this time Robersy was 20 years old. He was too old to attend youth group, but too spiritually young to be a youth group leader. So he began to help with little things so that he could attend and get some teaching on his level. For this reason alone Robersy was invited to a Bible Club Leaders Conference put on by Word of Life.

As the new financial secretary I helped with the final preparation for the Bible Club Leader Conference to be held in Santiago. Then with my limited Spanish (only a month following my arrival to the DR) I headed to Santiago with the other missionaries.

I didn't understand a word as the leaders began to arrive. Too many people and Dominicans speak fast! So I stood awkwardly in the entrance of the room as everyone arrived.

Then HE arrived! A handsome, skinny, quiet guy walked in to the room. I knew right away. I wasn’t necessarily attracted to this guy… but my heart felt connected! It’s weird to see in writing, but anyone who has experienced this will understand :) That night I called my mom! 

“Mom! I met the man I’m going to marry!” 

That's Robersy shaking the lady's hand as he entered the conference.

“Oh reeeeallly? What’s his name?” 

“Ummm… I don’t know.” 

“Well, where is he from?” 

“I’ll find out!” 

“Oh gosh!”

My only words to Robersy at that conference were “Hola!” when he arrived at the conference and “Adios!” when he left. I tried to investigate more information about this mystery guy… but since he was a new believer he was a mystery to everyone!

This was on the way back from the conference (Turey parada)

A few months later a mission team came from the states and went to visit several churches that Word of Life was working with. Unfortunately, I had to stay in the office but still got to chat with the group a few times. One afternoon while chatting with a young lady named Grace, from the team, she mentioned “the most beautiful man” she had met in Bani. She quickly scrolled through her photos to show me a picture. It was the mystery guy! 

“Ah!!! That’s the man I’m going to marry!!! What’s his name?!” 

“Um, I think Jose or something.” 

“When Jose and I get married you can babysit our children!” 

“Whatever!!! LOL.”

The mystery man was from Bani.

(Side note. I might be able to get a job as a professional stalker if this missionary stuff doesn't work out!) 

(Side note for the side note. I hope you understand that was a joke!!!)

A few months later we got ready for summer camp. I was able to go and my Spanish had improved a tiny bit… just not good enough to be a camp counselor. I’d just have to help where I could.

As the buses from different churches began to arrive, who should I see?! “Jose.”

By God’s design “Jose” and I served in many of the same areas at camp, where I soon came to learn. “Jose” was actually called Robersy. From program team, games, music and washing the dishes Robersy and I seemed to be together a lot. I learned that he was VERY shy. 

This became even clearer when a friend of Robersy came and asked me to go to the camp banquet with Robersy since Robersy was too shy to ask me himself. Unfortunately my Spanish was still struggling so we had someone go with us to help translate. That was our first “date” I guess you can say. LOL!!!

Our first date. Poor Robersy trying to figure out what I was saying!

For 3 weeks we served at that camp and became good friends. Then Robersy returned to San Pedro (where I lived) for a few days in order to help unpack camp supplies.

Since the shed was not sufficient for all the supplies and my apartment had a spare room everyone came to put the supplies there. When the people, who came to unload, went to leave Robersy ran back and just barely got out “Can I have your number?” LOL.

There began our daily phone calls, where a beautiful friendship developed into so much more.

"Born Again To A Living Hope" team

Without asking, I was then assigned to the youth group that Robersy helped at and so I got to see him every weekend in Bani. Then we were asked to be in “Born Again to a Living Hope” (a drama) and traveled around the DR presenting this drama in schools and churches. I began to see a lot of Robersy.

We began dating at the beginning of 2010. I returned to Bermuda in that same year. Thus began our long-distance relationship.

I’ll be honest. It was NOT easy! I got to visit the Dominican 4 times (2-3 weeks each time) before finally becoming Mrs. Lara. Our families were supportive through the whole journey and the first time my father met my husband-to-be was when he arrived in the DR on the week of our wedding!

We made the decision to transfer to SCORE so that we could continue serving in the Dominican Republic together. God has grown us as individuals and as a couple.

That, my friends, was the beginning of our adventure. And there is SO much more to come!!! Our God brought us together in such a creative way, I can hardly wait for all that’s still to come.

Grace… will you still babysit our children when they come along?! :)

In light of the cross and an EMPTY tomb

The week leading up to Easter is one of my favorite weeks of the year! From traditions like kite-making, hot-cross buns, new Easter dresses and brunch in Bermuda… to habicuela con dulce, the beach and lots of family-time here in the Dominican… it is truly a special time.

Even more so for a follower of Jesus Christ!

This past week I was able to celebrate the holiday with my older sister, Rebecca, who came to visit!

*SIDE NOTE* I really think we come to appreciate our loved ones more when they aren’t just in the bedroom down the hall (or for Rebecca and I… we shared a room for most of our life! We are still baffled of why Deborah, the youngest, trumped in this bedroom battle!!!) Anywho…

It was so nice to have her here! We visited a resort, relaxed on the beach and she even got to see a glimpse in to our ministry (unfortunately this week was anything but normal so she didn’t see everything… it was a glimpse anyways!).

Here are a few pics from her trip...

At the resort

Putting some Easter goodies together for Lily House

Teacher mode :)

Attempting a Bermuda kite... it failed.

Rebecca loved the puddings!

Habicuela con dulce - sweet beans

Bex with Robersy's side of the family

Easter sunrise

It was a very special time and we're SO thankful she came and visited!!!

Look at that sunrise again! 

What joy we have as Christians that the Son of God ROSE FROM THE DEAD!!! 

Remember that book I was reading leading up to Easter? More Than A Carpenter. So good! 

Listen to this quote about the disciples...

"They faced a life of hardship. They often went without food, slept exposed to the elements, were ridiculed, beaten, imprisoned. And finally, most of them were executed in torturous ways. For what? For good intentions? No, because they were convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that they had seen Jesus Christ alive from the dead. What you can't explain is how this particular group of men came up with this particular belief without having had an experience of the resurrected Christ. There's no other adequate explanation." p.98, More Than A Carpenter

We serve a risen Saviour, people!!!

Without a risen Saviour we have absolutely nothing to celebrate... 

Thank GOD ALMIGHTY we have every reason to celebrate!

I trust you had an awesome time celebrating HIM.

When Life Sucks.

Job’s life sucked. 

Well… it didn’t start that way! 

Lots of wealth, plenty of land and a big family. 

I’m sure his neighbors and friends looked at him and thought, “Wow… God has really blessed him!” He had it all!

Then one day… it all fell apart. Lost his kids, lost his wealth. All that remained was his nagging wife.

So his buddies came to visit and boy were they encouraging :)

As I have listened to the story of Job (listening through the Bible in a year! Digging Deeper Daily App… love it!) my heart has ached for the poor guy. His friends tried to give him advice, help him figure out why he was suffering. But their words just hurt him more.

Last Monday, I came to understand Job in a whole new way.

No I didn’t lose everything.

My family is still intact and our bank account is still ok.

I have a rash on my calf… but I don’t think they are boils.

But I DID feel very let down by God.

The retreat that had been advertised, prayed over, fasted over and prepared for was a flop. My dear friend Marcia and I stood in the park waiting… and waiting… and waiting… and waiting for girls who never came. We’d been let down by God. This was for HIM after all!

But the 2 of us cried together as Robersy drove us in the empty van back to our neighborhood and then we cried with the few that had sacrificed their time to come and help. Then we packed up, ate some ice-cream and guess what… life went on :)

Hurt… yes!

Disappointed… yes!

A little angry… yes!

Embarrassed… YES!!!

“The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.” Job 1:21b

I’m so thankful for the time that Erica allowed me to have away from Lily House (the following day) to just fall on my face before an Almighty Savior and remember that He is still in control!

HE knows which ladies will come to HIM… HE knows them by name… HE created them… and HE is preparing them.

But that awesome Creator God has also given us the beautiful privilege of serving HIM here and we will continue to do so!

That afternoon we had a pool party instead and ministered to Robersy’s boys. The following day I lead the Bible study at Lily House. We had youth group in Los Conucos. We’ve had baseball games, discipleship, etc. etc. etc.

I tell the girls at Lily House all the time. When life sucks you have two choices.

“You can stay on the ground… or you can get back up.”

I am choosing to get up.

I pray that through life’s sucky times you will choose to do the same!!!

Serving an unchanging Savior in a ever-changing world

I wanted to kill them at youth group.
Well... most of them anyways. 
There were so many, and they were SO naughty!

But as Robersy and I are sprawled out on the couch this Sunday evening in our Sunday bests vegetating after a long day, we can't help but praise God for all HE has done. To see several young people worshiping the LORD as they led the service at 2 different churches. It IS worth it. Here are some photos from Friday night (before the "storm") and some from the services today...

Games at youth group

Weekly eating competition by Nate

Worship at Iglesia Bautista Misionera Juan Dolio

A break for lunch

Worship at Los Fundos

Each week we are reminded of God's faithfulness. In our quiet time with the Lord... in each day of service... each night when we lay our heads down. HE IS FAITHFUL.

This past week we talked about this a bit in my GAP small group. You may have seen some funny pictures on my FB wall of friends years ago. In some cases the photos were taken 10 years ago... others, a mere 5 years ago. Oh how we have changed! Our living situations have changed, our relationship statuses have changed, our walk with the LORD has changed... but GOD... GOD has remained the same. His love for us has stayed consistent, His grace is still sufficient, His mercy is still abundant. We may have changed, but God remains the same.

In a world that is constantly changing, this concept of an unchanging God is foreign to us. But it ought to bring peace. 

The God who breathed life in to man...
The God who spoke with Adam and Eve in the garden...
The God who spoke through a burning bush...
The God who parted the sea...
The God who became flesh...
The God who paid it all...

That is the God we serve.
We have changed... but He has not.

Each year as we lead up to Easter I read "More Than A Carpenter" and every year I'm reminded of how truly blessed I am to know Christ as my Savior. If you have the chance, read this gem!!! It goes through historical evidence by philosophers, historians, doctors, etc. proving that Jesus was more than "just a man." But He isn't just God either. He is ALMIGHTY, POWERFUL, RIGHTEOUS, HOLY, PERFECT GOD. He always has been... and He will always be. 

I'm reminded of this every Tuesday-Friday as I teach and disciple girls at the Lily House, I'm reminded every Thursday nights as we walk the streets of Boca Chica, I'm reminded every Friday night as we serve crazy, naughty teens (that God loves very much and we do too). And since we talk about this often... I know Robersy is reminded at each practice, game and Bible study with his boys.

Speaking of Robersy, he just crawled towards the bedroom (did I mention it's only 8:30pm) and I'll be heading that way soon. To lay our heads down once again and to rest in His forever grace. 

Raindrops, palm trees and parades

So far it has been a pleasant Monday. Up at 6:30am to walk the dogs… then back to bed! Up again at 8:30am to go for a run, walked to the grocery store, prepared lunch (chicken put in a sauce to marinate and sweet potatoes wrapped in foil ready for the grill) then some precious time finishing up my “Read the Bible in a year” program. It took me a year, 2 months and 2 days. But I did it J

A lovely morning indeed.

But it just got better! The rain clouds rolled in and the electricity went out. Now it’s me with a full tummy and only the sound of rain on the palm trees outside… oh and Robersy playing some car game on the ipad, haha!

Did that description make you want to come visit us? I hope so!

Last week I was sick as a dog and so I never posted this, but we had the privilege of celebrating a wedding with one of the Lily House girls! A partner in ministry wrote this about the special union…

God is making some amazing things happen on this island in and through our partners. But there is one story in particular that has really made my heart SING this week, because I am such a sucker for a good LOVE STORY & I just have to share!! This past weekend a woman rescued years ago from commercial sexual exploitation by one of our safehouse partners-- who at that time separated from her then (non-legal) husband, himself trapped in a cycle of abuse and addiction-- was blessed with the opportunity to celebrate the work of God in her life in bringing her and her husband's journey full circle! After years spent apart, separately healing, learning about their true identities in Christ, and learning to lean on God and his Love for them, the two have finally been able to come back together as man and wife-- THIS TIME legally, before God, and before a community of witnesses who love and support them!!!!! And, at their wedding, this renewed and restored man of God was able to stand before the group who was present and testify as to how Christ has transformed his view of women and of himself in relation to his bride, while boys and young men-- many of whose views and hearts towards women are still being formed and who have countless negative influences pushing in on them from all sides-- had the opportunity to listen on with open ears and open hearts.

SO incredibly thankful for a God who breaks EVERY chain, who RESTORES BROKEN THINGS and whose good work in one life can multiply and bring LIGHT and LIFE to entire families and communities! 

By Mary Hooke, Women At Risk.

This is what makes each day of ministry worth it. This is why we go out each Thursday night. This is why we serve. Not to see a gorgeous wedding (although I looove weddings)… but to see lives changed!

It was a short week since I was sick Monday and Tuesday, but it became even shorter since Friday was a public holiday. February 27^th is Independence Day here in the Dominican and it is certainly a day of celebration.

Since we knew that many of our youth group kids and baseball boys would be in the Independence Day march (kind of like a parade, but mainly just schools marching) we decided to load up some of the ladies and kids from Lily House and check it out. I thought we were only going to watch, but much like the Gombeys in Bermuda, the Dominicans watch… then march with them! So we ended up walking the whole thing (me with a baby in sleeping in my arms and although she is tiny, goodness did my back hurt afterwards!!!) and then watching the celebration at the end.

It was fun to watch several of our kids and we even got to see the school that was wearing skirts made my Lily House! Too cool.

Here are some pics.

My sweet, back-breaking bundle :)

The parade

The skirts that Lily House made. YAY!

Some of our girls from youth group.

   

The celebration continued in to youth group with a Dominican themed evening which ended with a hot dog eating competition.

So needless to say, it has been a wonderful week.

For those who pray, please lift up my hubby to God Almighty. Robersy has been working hard with his boys (coaching, discipleship, teaching and ball games), but please pray that God will send him help. He is out on the field coaching on his own most days and last week he even passed out outside of church from pure exhaustion. This next week we’ll have a friend here to help him for 4 days, but be praying for someone long term!

Thank you! GOD BLESS!